There and Back Again

Back when I was 9 years old or so, I became obsessed with those 99 cent wet 'n wild polishes from Thrifty, or Rite Aide as it's called now. I used to match colours to holidays, days of the week, my mood...anything. I would paint anyone who would let me, albeit very messily, and I loved it. By the time 13 rolled around, I was a tomboy with cropped hair who climbed tress and would gag at the idea of painting my nails like some sort of girl. Heaven forbid I touch the stuff. They sat in a drawer and separated, forgotten for over a decade.  I was a nail biter, who did woodshop and worked on her car, climbed things and dug stuff up. My nails were tools, if they existed. A broken one didn't phase me, why would it? I destroyed my hands happily. Didn't touch lotion. Didn't know what a cuticle was, let alone the oil. But then, something changed.

I'm a bit ashamed to say that the change came less than a year ago. Sure, there were moments within my twenties when I would grow my nails a bit and slap some lacquer on: no top or bottom coat mind you. I even attempted hearts and stripes once. But nothing really happened until last year when I met my friend, and dealer.  It all started when I asked her where she got her nails done; she replied that she did them herself. It escalated: she showed me pictures, invited me over to do manicures and even helped me into the world of wholesale stores. However, it was she who also dealt the final blow to my sanity; she introduced me to indies.

She calls them hipster polishes, and she has a few, but she showed me a world of women making some of the coolest and more fun named polishes I've ever seen; and let me tell you, I'm a sucker for cute and quirky names.  I have a polish that has the same name as my bike...it's a problem. We made my first indie order together; I bought Black Cat Lacquer's "Dark Side of the Moon" ( I love that album) and "Paranormal" (for when I'm hunting ghosts).  That's when I was smitten. Those 2 bottles have since grown to over 50, and that's just my indie collection.

I went from eh to expert at her teachings. I can apply polish without getting it on my skin, I can use nail tools and make nail art. I take care of my cuticles. And this is my adventure.